viii PREFACE. 



tributing to the markets the enormous total of half a million birds, of a 

 purely wild and valuable nature, and this too without firing a shot. 



During the last dozen years I have waged constant warfare against 

 Wildfowl, with all imaginable contrivances in the way of yachts, punts, 

 and guns, in various parts of the world, as well as at home, at a cost of — 

 I should be afraid to say how much time and money — yet I can account 

 for but six or seven thousand Ducks. Now, in one winter alone, it was 

 in our grandfathers' days a usual thing for a Decoyman to catch from 

 five to ten thousand birds, at an annual outlay of perhaps ^50 spent in 

 keeping up a pond and its netting, its pipes and its reed screens. 



England and Ireland, as well as many parts of Scotland, are still 

 admirably suited for Decoys ; not, it is true, as a means of profit as of 

 yore, but as a constant source of amusement. For surely a Decoy, 

 however small it may be, haunted by numbers of beautiful Wildfowl, 

 affords a fund of interesting instruction that may always be resorted 

 to with advantage by both sportsmen and naturalists. 



It may be said with confidence, that there is scarcely a park or 

 property in Great Britain where a moderate venture in the shape of a 

 Decoy, costing from ;^ioo to ^150, could not be constructed. Its annual 

 expense might be ^30 to £AfO. Any fairly intelligent keeper could work it 

 well enough to supply its owner daily during the winter with a dainty dish 

 for his table, besides now and again plenty of birds to spare for friendly 

 presents as well. 



There may possibly exist some few unworked and almost forgotten 

 Decoys of which I have not heard. Should this be the case, I shall 

 be grateful to know of them, in order, if possible, to rectify such omissions. 



Ralph Payne-Gallwey. 



Thirkleby Park, 

 Thirsk. 



May, 1 886. 



